It’s often said that boundaries give rise to creativity – and that was the case for this one-bedroom apartment in Whampoa, where Kelvin of Space Sense Studio had to make the most of the limited space available.
AT A GLANCE
Home: A one-bedroom condo in Whampoa
Size: 600 sqft
Who lives here: A couple
ID: Space Sense
Home to a couple, the condominium apartment underwent a major reconfiguration under Kelvin’s supervision, over a span of three months with the circuit breaker in between. The kitchenette area was relocated to the other side of the communal area, and now stretches partly into the open-concept living room. Kelvin also removed most of the wall between the bedroom and living area, opting instead for a sliding glass door and a half-wall in order to let natural light pass through.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_livingroom_1-1024x594-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_livingroom_1-1024x594-1.jpg)
The remaining space was freed up for a dining table and a screed-backed display shelf, which houses the couple’s collection of books and knick-knacks. Backlit by LED lighting, and partially visible through a sepia-tinted sliding glass door, the collection looks like an archive of antiques – a look that Kelvin deliberately went for as his brief was to include a mid-century modern look.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_livingroom_2-913x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_livingroom_2-913x1024-1.jpg)
Other design elements include terrazzo tile flooring in earthy tones, which matches the kitchen backsplash for continuity, and frosted-glass cabinet doors that give a glimpse of the contents without being visually obtrusive.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_kitchen_2-1024x713-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_kitchen_2-1024x713-1.jpg)
To maximise space in the bedroom and bathroom, Kelvin had to work around the existing space. The sink and vanity area were relocated into the bedroom itself, so that there was now more room for the shower area. The wall between the bedroom and bathroom was also partially removed to allow more light through, so Kelvin had to specially mount the vanity mirror on the remaining portion, creating an interesting “floating” look.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bedroom_1-868x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bedroom_1-868x1024-1.jpg)
This effect is echoed in the cantilevered bed, which appears as though it’s hovering off the floor.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bedroom_2-1024x671-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bedroom_2-1024x671-1.jpg)
To make the apartment look more spacious, a clean and uncluttered look was called for when it came to lighting design. As such, you won’t find large statement lamps that take up visual space – instead, Kelvin opted for a streamlined design with subtle LED lighting and downlights. “These give a very clean, continuous look,” says Kelvin.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_lighting_1-1024x673-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_lighting_1-1024x673-1.jpg)
He also added reflective elements like a large full-height mirror in the dining area and gold detailing in the bathroom’s mosaic tiles so that light bounces off these.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bathroom_1-1024x840-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_bathroom_1-1024x840-1.jpg)
Another important part of the design brief was to include as much storage as possible, so Kelvin redesigned the dining area and entrance foyer as storage areas. These house the couple’s shoes and other utilities such as the washing machine and dryer, tucked out of sight behind cupboard doors.
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_kitchen_1-770x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_kitchen_1-770x1024-1.jpg)
To help with visual flow, everything is painted in the same neutral grey and white. “Continuity is very important in making a space feel cohesive,” says Kelvin, who firmly believes in the importance of planning spatial flow and creating an ideal layout. “Everything is in the details,” he says.
Art Direction: Nonie Chen
Photography: Tan Wei Te
![home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_walkway_1-594x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-condo-whampoa-space-sense-mid-century-modern_walkway_1-594x1024-1.jpg)